Xenakis et le passage vers l’universel
Xenakis and the transition to the universal

Summary/Abstract: The search for cultural identity, especially in countries that are threatened or feel threatened by a dominant culture, can lead, many times, to nationalism and isolation. It can also, perhaps more rarely, lead to unexpected paths that open new horizons not only at the local level but also at the universal level. The case of Iannis Xenakis fits into the second category. From 1949 until Metastaseis (1953–54), his first 'official' work, Xenakis wrote plays in which he attempted to marry Greek folklore with the European avant-garde. In 1955, he wrote an article devoted to this ‘marriage’, the first and at the same time last text published on this subject. Already, his music is moving from the local framework and extending towards the universal, with the ambition to include all music of the world. In this communication, we will try to follow this passage and clarify certain aspects of this trajectory.

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